Dodge details commercial upgrades

Declaring Chrysler was not letting up on its commercial vehicle market offensive, Joe Veltri, director of truck product marketing, described a range of enhancements to all Dodge commercial vehicles at a news conference at the NTEA Work Truck Show. Our new owners [of Chrysler] are committed to keeping us strong in this market, Veltri declared right off. Since our return to this market in 2003, we have

Declaring Chrysler was not letting up on its “commercial vehicle market offensive,” Joe Veltri, director of truck product marketing, described a range of enhancements to all Dodge commercial vehicles at a news conference at the NTEA Work Truck Show.

“Our new owners [of Chrysler] are committed to keeping us strong in this market,” Veltri declared right off. “Since our return to this market in 2003, we have launched six vehicles — the Ram 2500 Box-Off; Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs; the Sprinter; and the Grand Caravan Cargo Van.

According to Veltri, a long list of upgrades and enhancements can either be credited to 2008 models or are planned for 2009 models:

Veltri also noted that for small business owners, the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Cargo Van is optimized with a number of new factory upfit options. These include a new exterior vinyl window shading that can be applied to the outside window; both full- and half-width cargo dividers; wire mesh and solid metal window interior inserts; a cargo compartment floor mat; and carpeted and molded wall liners placed over the inside of the windows so others can't see inside.

Looking ahead, Veltri told Fleet Owner that Dodge will offer a new Cummins light-duty diesel — “being developed even as we speak” — sometime after the 2009 model year, and a hybrid-powered Ram 1500 half-ton pickup is in the works for the 2010 model year.www.dodge.com